Delivery mechanism for printing machines



A ril 29,1924.

P. AITCHISON DELIVERY MECHANISM FOR PRINTING mcmuss Original Filed Aug.10.

1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A ril 29, 1924. 1,492,189

P. AITCHISON DELIVERY MECHANISM FUR PRINTING MACHINES Original FiledAug. 10.1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 an 2 21 In ventor: by Umu(f/fi%fiy NewRochelle, in the county of Westchester etented Apr. 29, 1924.

UNITED STATES,

PATENT OFFICE.

PETER AI'ICHISON, OF NEW ROCHELLE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOB T0 AMERICAN BANKNOTE COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

DEIIIVEBY MECHANISM FOR PRINTING MACHINES.

Application filed August 10, 1921,8eria1 No. 491,1. Renewed September35, 1928.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PETER ArrcmsoN, a subject of the King of the UnitedKingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Delivery Mechanismsfor Printing Machines, of which the following is a specification,

reference being had therein to the accomthe f panying drawings, whichform a part thereof.

My invention relates to delivery mechanisms for printing machines, andmore particularl to a type thereof heretofore invented y me wherein theprinted sheets are received by material so coated as to preventoffsetting thereon of the ink from the printed sheet.

Such mechanisms are particularly adapted for use in connection withmachines used for making impressions upon dampened paper, such as steelplate machines, one characteristic of this type of delivery mechanismbeing the exclusion of air from the printed sheets in a manner topreserve the moisture therein, so as to avoid the necessity for arepeated dampening or wetting of the paper, and the possibility of aloss of re ister of succeeding impressions as a resu t of variances inthe size of the sheets due to varying shrinkage due to different degreesof saturation upon succeeding Wetting or dampening operations.

The strip or web ultimately receiving theprinted sheet is finished ortreated as by coating or impregnation, with cerasin wax, J a anese wax,paraflin, or other similar material, which fills the pores of the paperof the strip or web so as to make it non-impervious to moisture and air,and at the same time to present a surface to the printedksheets whichwill have no aflinity for the in The delivery mechanism of my presentinvention is so constructed as to feed the oiled or waxed strip in amanner to keep it substantially flat and under a gentle continuingpressure without likelihood of the tearing of the strip in a manner tointerrupt the operation of the delivery mechanism, and hence of thepress itself.

Another characteristic of the invention is the 'eeuoiployment of astructure by which ing movement of the strip or web ing couple. Insecurm this result, it 1s not w on y necessary to win the strip with theprinted sheets within the roll, by an intermittent application of owerto the roll, but to vary the R. P. of the roll with the increase ofdiameter thereof, so as to ensure uniformity in the rate of traverse ofthe strip or web throughout the entire length thereof, irrespective ofthe gradual increase of the diameter of the roll.

To adapt the delivery mechanism to printed sheets of different lengths,without waste in the strip or web, the machine is so construeted thatthe quantity of strip or web fed with each cycle of operations of theprinting couple may be increased or reduced with a constant speed ofsaid printing couple, this adjustment of the delivery mechanism toaccommodate it to sheets of different lengths, not modifying in any waythe capacity output of the printing couple.

Another characteristic of the invention is the provision of *meanswhereby the strip or web will be relieved from all tensioning stressesupon or about the supply reel, by a positive mechanical unwinding actionof said reel, simultaneously with the actuation ofthe rewind reel and tosubstantially the same extent, the actuating means for the mechanismsoperative upon said supplyreel and said rewind reel, being so connectedand combined as to ensure approximate uniformity in the operative effectof each.

To overcome mechanical difliculties in securing exactitude in theunwinding of the strip or web from the supply reel, and the winding ofsame upon t e rewind reel, I provide a compensating mechanism operativeupon the strip or web intermediate these .reels, which is automaticallyoperative to up by t e rewind reel, or to supply slack if the conditionsbe the reverse of that referred to.

The construction of a'delivery mechanism termittently rotatin said reel,a supply reel for a continuous strip or web of paper, sur' faced withmaterial having no aflinity for printing ink and impervious to air ormoisture, means whereby said supply reel is intermittently rotated tounwind said strip or web therefrom, guides intermediate said reels, aprinting couple, and means for conveying a printed sheet of paper fromadjacent said printing couple and delivering it to said web or stripadjacent said rewinding reel; and in such other novel features ofconstruction and combination of parts as are hereinafter set forth anddescribed, and.

more particularly pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

Referring to the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a delivery mechanism embodying myinvention, and the associated parts of a printing machine co-operatingtherewith;

Fig. 2 is an end view partly broken away, taken at the left of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail view of the throwofi' mechanism as to those partsthereof ensurin simultaneous stoppage of the impression cy inder orD-roll, and the mechanism actuating the supply and rewind reels;

Fig. 4 is a detail View of the mechanism employed to vary the R. P. M.of the rewind reel to substantially equalize the rate of traverse of theweb; and

Fig. 5 is a detail view of the driving gear operative upon said rewindreel.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views.

In the accompanying drawings, I have shown a form or plate cylinder 10having associated therewit an impression cylinder or D-roll 11, driventherefrom in the usual and well known manner. The details ofconstruction of the inking and wiping mechanism and of the actuatingmeans for said printing couple, are not shown in the accompanyingdrawings, as such are immaterial to the present invention.

Associated with said printing couple is a feed mechanism 12 and itsactuating mechanism 13 receiving power from the oscillatory lever 14 andcams 15 upon the shaft of the form or plate cylinder. Since this feedmechanism is immaterial to the present invention, the details thereofare omitted from the drawings.

Associated with the printing couple 10- 11 is a rewind reel 16 and asupply reel 17 for a continuous strip or web 18 ofpaper or other similarmaterial saturated, impregnated or coated with wax or othersubstantially non-absorptive material, making it substantiallywaterproof and air-tight and imparting to it a finish having no afiinityfor theprinting inks. This strip or web, in the operation of themechanism, is unwound from the reel 17 and wound upon the reel 16, thedampened, printed sheets beingdelivered thereto during its progress fromthe former reel to the latter so that such sheets will be wound withinthe roll upon the reel 16 and thus be stored in a manner to prevent theevaporation of the damping fluid in the paper and avoid'oflfsetting ofthe ink upon said strip or web- Intermediate the reels 16 and 17 arefixeo guide rollers 19 and 20 and a movable take up roller 21 disposedbetween said rollers,

said guide rollers 19 and 20 serving to hold the strip or web perfectlyflat to avoid the formation of creases therein, while the roller 21 willcompensate for irregularities in the traverse of the strip or web due toany variance in the rate of traverse of said strip or web adjacent therewind reel and adjacent the supply reel.

The compensating takeup roller 21 is mounted in suitable slotted guides22, the slots of which are of suflicient length to permit adequate feedof the strip or web by the rewind reel 16, even though there be acomplete momentary failure in the functioning of the mechanism operativeupon the supply reel 17.

The compensating takeup roller 21 will also serve to ensure uniformtensioning ressure upon the strip or web independent y of the action ofthe reel 17, and will also assist in keeping the strip or web perfectlyflat.

Owing to the absence of any reat tensile strength in said strip or web,t e roller 21 will serve to minimize likelihood of any tearing of thestrip or web by reason of the development of stresses through a mo- 7mentary lack of coordination of the reels 16 and 17;

Carried by the rewind reel 16 at opposite ends thereof are frictiondiscs 23 and 24 adapted to seat upon the groove wheels 25 and 26 uponone side of the machine, and 27 and 28 upon the other side of themachine, respectively, thus permitting notonly the desired rotation ofsaid reel through the friction wheels and discs above specified, butalso the convenient mounting and dismounting of the reel with relationto said driving wheels, which is required when placing an empty reel inthe machine or removing a filled reel therefrom.

Also carried adjacent either or both ends of the reel 16 is a brake drumand its assotoo ciated hand brake 29, which prevents any tendency of theoverrunning of said reel 16.

Carried by the friction wheels and 26 respectively are gears 30 and 31meshing with an intermittently rotated gear 32 actuated through themedium of the ratchet gear 33 carried thereby and a weighted pawl or dog34 pivotally mounted upon a swing arm 35 receiving oscillatory movementthrough the connecting rod 36, one end of which is pivotally connectedwith said swing arm and the other end of which is pivotally connectedwith one arm 37 of a bell crank lever, the other arm 38 of which leveris connected witha crank 39 upon the shaft of the sprocket wheel 40,which latter is continuously rotated in synchronism with the rotation ofthe form or plate cylinder 10.

The supply reel 17 is mounted in a slotted bearing 41 and has associatedtherewith two friction drums 42 and 43 upon which said reel 17 rests,the slotted bearing 41 permitting said reel to gradually descend as thestrip or web is unwound therefrom so as to maintain the desiredfrictional engagement between same and said drums. The shafts of thedrums 42 and 43 have mounted thereon spur gears 44 and 45 respectivelywhich are in mesh with the driving gear 46, the shaft of which has thebell crank lever 37 and 38 loosely mounted thereon so as to permit theactuation of the driving mechanism for the supply reel through the samechain of mechanisms as the rewind reel 16. The car 46 .is intermittentlyactuated from said ell crank lever through the medium of the weightedpawl 47 carried by the arm 38, and a co-operating ratchet wheel 48carried by said gear. By the construction de scribed, the supply reeland the rewind reel will be simultaneously actuated, means beingprovided, however, whereby the gradual increase in the diameter of theroll upon the reel 16 will be compensated for, the application ofdriving power to the reel 16 through the medium of the strip or web 18mounted thereon not being desirable owin to a gradual increase in theweight of this roll, and a tendency to smut the printed sheets at times.

The pitman 39 is adjustably connected with the crank arm 49 carried bythe shaft of the sprocket wheel 40 so as to permit the desired variationin the quantityof feed of the strip or web 18 with each rotation of saidgear, thus permitting the machine to b set so as to collect printedsheets of different lengths, and still have them closely juxtaposed uponthe strip or webcas it is wound upon the reel 16.

The wheel 40 is continuously rotated by means of the gear 50 upon theplate or form cylinder 10, and by an intermeshing gear upon the shaft 51or 52, as the case may be, said shafts respectively carrying thesprocket wheels 53 and 54 over which the chain 55 passes. The shaft 51carries a gear.

56 while the shaft 52 carries a gear 57, said gears being adapted to beselectively entrained with the gear 50 through the medium of the gear58, so as to adapt this mechanism for use with either one or two platesupon said cylinder 10. This adjustability is secured by mounting theshafts 51 and 52 upon an oscillatory frame 59 mounted to have movementabout the pivot 60 so that either gear 56 or 57 may be enmeshed withsaid gear 58. To prevent slack being formed in the chains through theoscillation of the frame 59, I mount upon said frame a takeup sprocketwheel 61. The purpose of the above mechanism is merely to permit thesame delivery mechanism to be used whether one or two plates are mountedupon the cylinder 10, so as to increase the traverse of the strip or web18 when two impressions are made with each rotationof the cylinder 10,and to have the feed approximately one-half the former amount when onlyone impression is so made. The chain and sprocket mechanism 62 has nooperative effect upon the delivery mechanism, it being a driveassociated with the paper feed mechanism.

The compensating feature of the driving mechanism for the reel 16 in theform of the invention shown, comprises a swing frame 63 carrying ashield plate 64 adapted to partially encircle the periphery of theratchet wheel 33 and thus control the operative re lation between saidratchet wheel and its cooperating pawl 34, means being provided wherebysaid frame and said shield will be progressively advanced in thedirection of rotation of said ratchet wheel and in approximateproportion to the increase of the diameter of the roll upon the reel 16so as to gradually decrease the rotative movement imparted to said reelthrough the medium of said pawl, and thus substantially equalize therate of traverse of the strip or web 18 notwithstanding the increase ofthe diameter of the roll upon said reel. The frame 63 is loosely mountedupon the bearing for the gear 32.

-The swing frame 63 is slotted as shown and has mounted thereon, bymeans of said slot, a screw-threaded travelling fitting 65 havingmounted therein a feed screw 66 carrying a star wheel 67 adjacent thefriction wheel 26, the teeth thereof projecting into the path ofmovement of a 'tappet 68 carried by said friction wheel. The screw 66 ismounted in bearings 69 supported from the end of the bearing for saidwheel 26.

By the construction described, the shield 64 will be gradually andprogressively advanced with each rotation of the wheel 26 so as togradually prevent the engagement of the pawl 34 with succeeding teeth ofthe ratchet wheel 33, and thus limit the rotative movement of saidratchet wheel with a gradually continuing reduction in the uantity ofrotary movement of the rec 16. While the mechanism described does notsecure a Mpositive and regular decrease in the R. P. of the reel 16,nevertheless by using fine ratceht teeth and properly proportioning theleverage of action of the screw 66 upon the frame 63, fairlysatisfactory results are obtained, the loop adjacent the takeup roller21 compensating for that lack of precision present in the mechanismshown.

Since the manner of driving the supply reel 17 is by direct frictionalcontact with the friction rollers 42 with the surface of the strip orweb upon said reel, it is apparent that the peripheral traverse of saidreel will be constant so that no such mechanism as that immediatelyabove referred to, is required in connection with said supply reel.

Acting upon the friction drums 42 and 43 of each pair is a friction discand band 70 for preventing overrunning of the supply reel. The brakemechanisms 29 and 70 are provided because of the intermittent action ofthe reels 16 and 17 and the frequency with which said reels areactuated, which would have a tendency to interfere with the feed of thestrip or web 18, were not some retard device provided, since the gears32 and 46 are free to rotate independently of the actuating meanstherefor.

The printed sheets are discharged upon the reach of the strip or web 18adjacent the rewind reel 16 by a, mechanism which is old and well knownin the art. This mechanism comprises a gripper cylinder 71 driven fromthe gear 50 upon the form or plate cylinder. A series of tapes 72 passabout this grip-per cylinder and about the guide rollers 74 and Y75.Adjacent the guide roller 75 is a roller 76 driven by the sprocket chain77 from a sprocket wheel 73, driven from the ear wheel 50 while adjacentthe guide roller 20 is a roller 78 about which, and the roller 76, passdelivery tapes 7 9. Passing about rollers 80, 81. 82 and 75 arecontinuous tapes 83, one reach of which passes over the roller 75engaging reaches of the tapes 72 .and 79 respectively so as to grasp theprinting sheets delivered therebetween by the gripper cylinder 71. Therollers 78 and 80 terminate adjacent andabove' the guide roller 20 forthe strip or web 18 so that the printed sheets are conveyed fromadjacent the form or plate cylinder 10 and discharged upon the portionof the strip or web 18 intermediate the roller 20 and the reel 16.

. The impression cylinder or D-roll 11 is p actuated by' means of a gearwheel 84 connected with the shaft thereof by means of a slide clutch 85which is adapted to be actuated by means of the lever 86 havingpivotallyconnected therewith the rod 87 actuated by-means of a pinion 88meshing with the rack teeth 89 upon said rod. The crank arm 90 actuatingsaid pinion is conveniently accessible to the feeder, so as to permitthe stoppage of the impression cylinder in the event of the failure toproperly feed .a sheet to the printing couple, or during the makereadyto ensure the pro er ink ing of the plates before the initia rintingoperation. When the clutch 85 1s actuated, the form or plate cylinder 10continues to rotate so that it is desirable to provide means operativelyconnected, and acting in synchronism, with said clutch, so as tostop'the feed of the strip or web 18 simultaneously with the stoppage ofthe im pression cylinder or D-roll.

- Pivotally mounted adjacent the ratchet wheel 48 is a releasing lever91 curved to conform to the arc of movement of the pawl 47 and extendingthrou bout the maximum range of movement 0 said pawl, so that byactuating said releasing lever, the

pawl may be instantly disengaged from the ratchet wheel 48, irrespectiveof the immediate position of said pawl. The actuating means for saidlever 91 is a lift arm 92 which is operatively connected with the clutchmember 85 through the crank and link mechanism 93, so as to cause saidpawl to become inoperative substantially simultaneously with thedisengagement of the impression cylinder or D-roll from its drivinggear.

Pivotally mounted adjacent the gear wheel 32 is a similar release lever94 adapted to operate in the same manner as that heretofore described inconnection with the lever 91 but with relation to the pawl 34. Thislever 94 is acted upon through the medium of one arm of a double cranklever 95, the other arm of which is connected by the link 96 with theoscillatory plate 97 carrying the lift arm 92. By thus connecting theactuating means for the release levers 91 and. 94 with the throwofi'mechanism of the printing couple, stoppage of the feed of the strip orWeb 18 and its being' rewound upon the reel 16 will occur simultaneouslywith this throwoff.

The lever 94 is ivoted on a frame 98 carried by one of te standards 99at 100.

The operation of the herein described mechanism is substantially asfollows When the cylinder 10 carries two plates,

so as to make two impressions with each revolution of the cylinder, therelation of parts will be as shown in the accompanymg drawings. Underthis condition it is apparent that the length of the strip or web 18 fedwith each revolution of the cylinder 10 must be sufiicient to receivetwo printed sheets. Ordinarily in under-surface printing the length ofthe plates will approximate 90 of the are of the circumference of theform or late cylinder, so that since the diameter of the wheel 40 isaipproximately one-half of the gear 50 upon t e form or plate cylinder,and since the ratio of the gears 56 and 58 is such as to ensure the sameperipheral speed in the wheel 40 and gear 50, it is apparent that thestrip or web 18 will receive two feedin impulses with each revolution ofthe cy inder 10 at intervals timed with relation to the printinginterval, the dwell afforded by the crank and pitman connection betweenthe wheel 40 and the actuating mechanisms for the supply and the rewindreels compensatin for the intervals between impremions and the spacesbetween succeeding printed sheets conveyed to the web or strip by thedelivery ta es.

With this set 0 the machine, power will be transmitted through the chain55, sprocket wheel 53 upon the shaft 51, by the gears 56 and 58, anyreduction in the speed of actuation of the strip or web feedingmechanism as compared with the peripheral speed of the cylinder 10 beingsecured by the adjustment of the pitman 39 with relation to the crank49, and intermittent feeding impulses being secured by the crank andpitman mechanism.

As the wheel 40 is rotated through the said chain 55, the bell cranklever 37-38 will be oscillated through the pitman 39 and will impart asimilar oscillatory movement to the swing arm 35 connected therewith bythe link 36.

\Vith the movement of the arm 38 to the left (Fig. 1) the pawl 47through its engagement with the ratchet wheel 48 will impart a limitedrotary movement to the gear 46 and through said gear and the gears 44and 45 to the friction drums 42 and 43 acting upon the supply reel 17.In this manner the strip or web 18 will be unwound fromthe reel 17 at auniform rate irrespective of the gradual reduction of diameter of thestrip or web upon said reel, the slotted bearing 41 permitting the reelto descend so as to maintain the engagement of said drums and the supplyreel notwithstanding the radual decreases in the diameter of the reel.

The slack thus fed from the supply reel 17 will be taken up by therotary movement imparted to the rewind reel 16 through the pawl 34, theratchet wheel 33, the gears 32, 30 and 31', and the friction wheels 25and 26 co-operating with the friction disc 23 upon said rewind reel, anydissimilarity in the quantity of the strip or web fed from the reel 17,and the quantity rewound upon the reel 16 being compensated for by theelevation or descent of the compensating roller 21 in its slotted frame22. This feeding move- -m ent will occur only while the crank 49 ispassing through the lower 180 of its cycle, the remaining 180 of thisare of movement effecting a return movement of the pawls 47 and 34 withrelation to their respective ratchets without feeding stri or web.

e guides 19 and 20 will hold the strip or web flat during its coursethrough the machine, the roller 21 assisting in securing this result,and at the same time placing every portion of the web between the reels16 and 17 under constant tension, the load of this roller beinginsufficient to apply any substantial breaking or tearing stresses tothe strip or web. Furthermore, the freedom of the roller 21 to rise andfall by a substantially vertical movement, will permit, if occasionshould demand, a tem orary full feeding movement forward of t e strip orweb even though there be a partial failure of the supply reel to beproperly rotated by its actuating mechanism. y

The pressure developed by the roller 21, or the drag upon the strip orweb resultin from the load of this roller, will place a su ficientstress between the unwound portion of the strip or web and the woundportion thereof at the rewind reel 16 to ensure the expression of airfrom between the succeeding plies of the roll of the strip or web uponsaid rewind reel and thus tend to exclude air from the rinted sheetswhile within the roll, and avold material loss of moisture in theprinted strip as a result of evaporation. This gentle pressure will alsocause an intimate contact between the printed face of each sheet of paer and the surface of the strip or web wit which the inked surfacecontacts, which will facilitate the removal of the sheets from the rollof strip or web by a separate mechanism which forms no part of t epresent invention, but is used in conjunction therewith.

The relation of the guide roller 20 and the lower periphery of the rollof strip or web upon the reel 16 will cause the portion of said strip orweb intermediate said guide roller and said roll to be on an incline sothat each sheet as it is delivered to said portion of the strip or webfrom between the adjacent reaches of the tapes 83 and 79, will passfreely along the inclined ortion of the strip or web thus providedirrespective of the feeding interval of said web.

When the adjustment of parts is such as shown in Fig. 1, the feedinginterval of the strip or web may be coincident with the travel of thesheet as it is delivered thereto. When a single printing late is used'on a machine, however, the re ative variance in the rate of traverse ofthe printed sheet and of the strip or web will make the relative feedinginterval a matter of indifference.

movement of the Even when two plates are used upon the afforded by theintermittent actuation of the strip or web supply reel and the rewindreel is to afford a dwell in the feed of the strip or web so that,notwithstanding this in the roll u spacing of the printed sheets uponthe dehvery mechanism, they will be positioned in fairly close proximityto each other when delivered to the strip or web, and as wound n thereel 16.

Plates of ifi'erent sizes for printing upon sheets of difl'erent lengthare frequently used upon the same ress, the adjustabilit of the pitman39 wit relation to the cran 49 being for the purpose of varying thequantity of feed of the strip or web with each rotation of the wheel 40so as to secure the desired closeness in the positioning of succeedingsheets upon said strip or we irrespective of variance in the length ofthe sheets during different runs of the press.

The hand brake mechanisms 29 and are merely for the purpose ofpreventing possible excess movement of the friction cylinders 42 and 43and of the friction disc 23 with a resultant loss of uniformity in thequantity of strip or web fed through the machine .at each actuation ofthe driving means for the res ective reels.

When but one p ate is used upon the cylinder 10, the frame 59 islowered, thus disengaging the gear 56 from, and engaging the gear 57with, the intermediate gear 58.

Since the gear 57 is twice the diameter of the gear 56, and the sprocketwheel 54 is of the same diameter as the sprocket wheel 53, thisadjustment will reduce the lineal traverse of the chain 55 and theperipheral traverse of the wheel 40 to one-half of that of the formeradjustment. The takeup sprocket 61 will prevent creation of slack in thechain 55 by the downward movement of the frame 59 and of the sprocketwheel 53.

With each rotation of the friction wheel 26, the tappet 68 carriedthereby will engage a tooth upon the star wheel 67 and impart a partialrotation thereto with a ,resultant actuation of the feed screw 66 and adownward movement of the swing frame 65. This downward movement of saidframe will gradually advance the shield 64 in the direction of thefeeding movement of the pawl 34 so that with the progressive advance ofsaid shield said pawl will ride thereon during a portion of this feedingmovement, and thus be held out of engagement with the teeth of theco-operating ratchet wheel 33 so as to gradually reduce the feedingmovement imparted to the gear wheel 32 with each actuation of the swingarms 35 resulting in a gradual reduction in' The dwell diameter of theroll of strip or web 18 thereon.

When the'impression cylinder or D-roll 11 is thrown out by the actuationof the rack bar 8'. and the clutch 85, the link and lever mechanism 93will, throu h the release arms 92 and the bell cran lever 95, oscillatethe releasing lever 91 and 94 re spectively so as to disengage the pawls47 and 34 from their co-operating ratchet wheels irrespective of theposition of said pawls at the time of the actuation of said levers.Normally the weighed heels of said pawl will move in close proximit tothe adjacent edge of said levers, w ich are formed in an arc concentricwith the arc of movement of said pawl. When the levers are rocked,however, this edge becomes concentric to, and is positioned within, thearc of movement of the heels of said pawls. and thus holds the pawls outof engagement or disengagement from the ratchet wheel.

The manner of connecting the double crank lever 95 and the frame 97ensures simultaneous release of both pawls.

The stoppage of the printing couple will not efiect the feeding movementof the delivery tapes, but will stop the making of impressions, thusleaving a relatively long gap between the printed sheets upon saidtapes. This would result in waste of the strip" 0r web 18 were not somemeans .provided to cause the number of feeding impulses operative uponsaid strip or web to coincide with the number of impressions actuallymade.

The mechanism described is conveniently accessible to the feeder, and itis ordinarily used only when, by some mishap, there has been a failureto feed a sheet to the printing couple, and its functioning as to thestrip or web feeding mechanism is of importance only under thiscondition.

If by the continued delivery of sheets to the strip or web 18 by thedelivery tapes. there is a tendency of these sheets to accumulate uponthis strip or web, they should be removed by hand so as to be fed. tothe roll to fill the gaps occasioned by the lapse of feeding of sheetsto the couple.

The ink upon the printed sheets will have an opportunity to partiallyoxidize or dry before delivery to the roll of strip or web 18, althoughthe character of the strip or web will prevent offsetting of thepartially dried ink thereon. The side of the sheet bearing theimpression will be delivered face upward upon the strip or web so thatthere will be no rubbing action as a resultof relative movement of thesheet and the strip or web.

The detailed construction of the various mechanisms herein described isimmaterial to the invention, and many of such are capable of widevariation while still securing the desired operative effects in themachine. It is not my intention therefore, to limit the invention to theprecise details of construction shown in the drawings, since such may bevaried without departing from the spirit and scopeof the invention.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to haveprotected by Letters Patent, is

1. A delivery mechanism for printing machines embodying therein a rewindreel, means for intermittently rotating said reel, a supply reel for acontinuous strip or web of paper, surfaced with material having noaiiinity for printing ink and impervious to air or moisture, meanswhereby said supply reel is intermittently rotated to unwind said stripor web therefrom, guides intermediate said reels,-a printing couple, andmeans for conveying a printed sheet of paper from adjacent the printingcouple and delivering it tlo said web or strip adjacent said rewind ree2; A delivery mechanism for printing machines embodying therein a rewindreel,

means for intermittently rotating said -reel, automatically acting meanswhereby the operative effect of said first named means will beprogressively modified to cause a substantially proportionate reductionof each rotative movement of said rewind reel as the diameter of theroll of paper thereon increases, a supply reel for a continuous strip orweb of paper, surfaced with material having no afiinity for printing inkand impervious to air or moisture, means whereby said supply reel isintermittently rotated to unwind said strip or web therefrom, guidesintermediate said reels, a printing couple, and means for conveying aprinted sheet of paper from adjacent the printing couple and deliveringit to said web or strip adjacent said rewind reel.

3. A delivery mechanism for printing machines embodying therein a rewindreel, means for intermittently rotating said reel, a supply reel for acontinuous strip or web of paper, surfaced withmaterial having noaflinity for printing ink and impervious to air or moisture, meanswhereby said supply reel is intermittently rotated to unwind said stripor Web therefrom, guides intermediate said reels, means intermediatesaid supply reel and said rewind reel whereby irregularities in thetraverse of the strip or web will be automatically compensated for, aprinting couple. and means for conveying a printed sheet of paper fromadjacent the printing couplewand delivering it to said web or stripadjacent said rewind reel.

4:. A delivery mechanism for printing machines embodying therein arewind reel, means for intermittently rotating said reel, a supply reelfor a continuous strip or web named means and the actuatin ailinity forprinting ink and impervious toair or moisture, means whereby said supplyreel is intermittently rotated to unwind said strip or web therefrom,guides intermediate said reels, a printing couple, means whereby saidprinting couple may be made ino erative, operative connections'betweensai last means for said supply reel and said rewin reel, whereby saidactuating means will be made inoperative simultaneously with the printincouple, and means for conveying a prints sheet of paper from adjacentthe printing couple and delivering it to said web or strip adjacent saidrewind reel.

5. A delivery mechanism for printing machines embodyin therein a rewindreel, means for intermittently rotating said reel, a supply reel for acontinuous strip or web of paper, surfaced with material having noaffinity for printing ink and impervious to air or moisture, meanswherebysaid suppl reel is intermittently rotated to unwind sai strip orweb therefrom, means whereby the operative effect of the means forrotating said rewind reel and said supply reel may be varied to ensure aclose spacin of the printed sheets upon the strip or we guidesintermediate said reels, a printing couple, and means for conveyin aprinted sheet of paper from adjacent t e printing couple and deliveringit to said web or strip adjacent said rewind reel.

6. A delivery mechanism for printing ma.- chines embodying therein arewind reel, means for intermittently rotating said reel, a supply reelfor a continuous strip or web of paper, surfaced with material having noafiinity for printing ink and impervious to air or moisture, meanswhereby said suppl reel is intermittently rotated to unwind said stripor web therefrom, means whereby the speed ratio of the means forrotating said rewind reel and said supply reel, and the printing. couplemay be varied to adapt the machine to the use of either one or aplurality of plates on the printing couple, guides intermediate saidreels, a printing 1 couple, and means for conveying a printed sheetofpaper from adjacent the printing aflinity for printing ink andimpervious to air or mo1sture,.means whereby said supply reel isintermittently rotated to unwind said chines embodying therein a rewindreel, a

pair of friction disks upon each side ofv the machine adjacent saidrewind reel, co-operating friction disks ca'rried by the opposite endsof said reel, .gear wheels carried by the members of a pair of frictiondisks, a gear wheel meshing with each of said first named gears, aratchet wheel carried by said last named gear, a swing arm mounted tomove about an axis concentric with said ratchet wheel, an actuating pawlcarried by said swing arm adapted to normally engage said ratchet wheel,an acruate shield rotatably mounted upon an axis concentric with saidratchet wheel and having a radial extending arm, a nut carried by saidarm, a lead screw co-operating therewith, operative connections betweensaid lead screw and a disk of one of said pairs, whereby the effectiveengagement of said pawl and said ratchet wheel will be progressivelyreduced as the diameter of the roll or web of the rewind reel increases,a supply reel for a continuous strip or web of paper, surfaced withmaterial having no affinity for print ing ink and impervious to air ormoisture, means whereby said supply reel is intermittently rotated tounwind said strip or web therefrom, guides intermediate said reels, aprinting couple, and means for conveying a printed sheet of paper fromadjacent the printing couple and delivering it to said web or stripadjacent said rewind reel.

9. A delivery mechanism for printing ma,-

chines embodying therein a rewind reel, means for intermittentlyrotatingsaid reel,

a supply reel for a continuous strip or web' of paper, surfaced withmaterial having no affinity for printing ink and impervious to air ormoisture, two friction drums operatively engaging the strip or web uponsaid supply reel, intermittently operative means actuating said frictiondrums, guides intermediate said reels, a printing couple, and means forconveying a printed sheet of paper from adjacent the printing couple anddelivering it to said web or strip adjacent said rewind reel.

10. A delivery mechanism for printing machines embodying therein arewind reel, means for intermittently rotating said reel, a supplyreelfor a continuous strip or web of paper, surfaced with materialhaving no I afiinity for printing ink and impervious to air or moisture,two friction drums operatively engaging the strip or web upon saidsupply reel, gear wheels carried by said drums respectively, a ge'arwheel meshing with said first named gear wheels respectively, a ratchetwheel carried by said last named gear wheel, a swing arm mountedconcentrically with said ratchet wheel, a pawl carried thereby andcooperating with said ratchet wheel, means intermittently actuating saidswing arm, whereby said supply reel will be intermittently rotated at aconstant speed, guides intermediate said reels, a printing couple, andmeans for conveying a printed sheet of pa r from adjacent the printingcouple and delivering it to 1said web or strip adjacent said rewind reeI 11. A delivery mechanism for printi machines embodying therein arewind re a pair of friction disks upon each side of the machineadjacent said rewind reel, co-operating friction disks carried by theopposite ends of said reel, gear wheels carried by the members of a pairof friction disks, a gear wheel meshing with each of said first namedgears, a ratchet wheel carried by said last named gear, a swing armmounted to move about an axis concentric with said ratchet wheel, anactuating pawl carried by said swing arm adapted to normally engage saidratchet wheel, an arcuate shield rotatably mounted upon anaxisconcentric with said ratchet wheel and havin a radially extending arm, anut carried y said arm, a lead screwco-operating therewit operativeconnections between said le screw and a disk of one of said airs wherebythe effective engagement 0 said pawl and said ratchet wheel will beprogressively reduced as the diameter of the roll or web of the rewindreel increases, a supply reel for a continuous strip or web of paper,surfaced with material having no afiinity for printing ink andimpervious to air or moisture, two friction drums operatively engaginthe strip or web upon said supply ree gear wheels carried by said drumsrespectively, a gear wheel meshing with said first named gear wheelsrespectively, a ratchet wheel carried by said last named gear wheel, aswing arm mounted concentrically with said ratchet wheel, a pawl carriedthereby and co-operating with said ratchet wheel, a link connecting saidswing arms respectively, means intermittently actuating said last namedswing arm, whereby said supply reel will be in-' veying a printed sheetof pa r from adjacent the printing couple an delivering it to said webor strip adjacent said rewind reel.

12. A delivery mechanism for printing machines embodying therein arewind reel, a pair of friction disks upon each side of enace firstnamed gears, a ratchet wheel carried by said last named gear, a swingarm mounted to move about an axis concentric withsaid ratchet wheel, anactuating pawl carried by said swing arm adapted to normally engage saidratchet wheel, an arcuate shield rotatabl mounted upon an axisconcentric with sa1d ratchet wheel and havin a radially extending arm, anut carried y said arm, a lead screw co-o crating therewith operativeconnections tween said lead screw and a disk of one of said airs wherebythe efiective en agement o pawl and said ratchet w eel will beprogressively reduced as the diameter of the roll or web of the rewindreel increases, a supply reel for a continuous strip or web of paper,surfaced with material having no affinity for printing ink andimpervious to air or moisture, two friction drums operatively engaginthe strip or web upon said supply ree gear wheels carried by said drumsrespectively, a gear wheel meshing with said first named gear wheelsrespectively, a ratchet wheel carried by said last named gear wheel, aswing arm mounted concentrically with said ratchet wheel, a pawl carriedthereb and co-operating with said ratchet whee, a link connecti saidswing arms respectively, a crank whee connections between said crankwheel and a printin couple, a pitman connection between sai crank wheeland said last named swing arm, whereby. said supply reel will beintermittently rotated at a constant speed and said rewind reel willactuated simultaneously therewith, guides intermediate said reels, aprinting couple, and means ,for conveying a printed sheet of paper fromadjacent the printing couple and delivering it to said web or stripadjacent said rewind reel.

13. A delivery mechanism for printing machines embodying therein arewind feel, a pair of friction disks upon each side of the machineadjacent said rewind reel, co-operating friction disks'carried by theopposite ends of said reel, gear wheels carried by the members of a pairof friction disks, a gear wheel meshing with each of said first namedg'ears, a ratchet wheel carried by said last named gear, a swing armmounted to move about an axis concentric with said ratchet wheel, anactuating pawl carried by said swing arm adapted to normally engage saidratchet wheel, an arcuate shield rotatably mounted upon an axisconcentric with said ratchet wheel and having a radially extending arm,a nut carried by said arm, a lead screw co-o rating therewith, operativeconnections tween said lead screw and a disk of one of said pairs,whereby the efiective engagement of said pawl and said ratchet wheelwill be progressively reduced as the diameter of the roll or web of therewind reel increases, a supply reel for a continuous strip or web ofpaper, surfaced with material having no aflinity for printing ink andimpervious to air or moisture, two friction drums operativel engagingthe strip or web upon said supp y reel, gear wheels carried b said drumsrespectively, a gear wheel mes ing with said first named gear wheelsrespectively, a ratchet wheel carried by said last named gear wheel, aswing arm mounted concentrically with said ratchet wheel, a pawl carriedthereby and co-operating with said ratchet wheel, a link connecting saidswing arms respectively, a crank wheel, connections between said crankwheel and a printing couple, a pitman connection between said crankwheel and said last named swing arm, whereby said supply reel will beintermittently rotated at a constant speed and said rewind reel will beactuated simultaneously therewith, means whereby the crank of sa1d wheelmay be adjusted radially thereof to adjust the movement of the rewindand the supply reels to secure a desired spacin of the printed sheetsupon the strip or we guides lntermediate sa1d reels, a printin couple,and means for conveyin a printe sheet of paper from adjacent t eprinting couple an delivering it to said we or strip adjacent saidrewind reel.

14. A delivery mechanism for printing machines embodying therein arewind reel,

a pair of friction disks upon each side of the machine adjacent saidrewind reel, co-opcrating friction disks carried by the opposite ends ofsaid reel, gear wheels carried by the members of a pair of frictiondisks, a gear c wheel meshing with each of said first named gears, aratchet wheel carried by said last named gear, a swing arm mounted tomove about an axis concentric with said ratchet wheel, an actuating pawlcarried by said swing arm adapted to normally engage said ratchet wheel,an arcuate shield rotatably mounted upon an axis concentric with saidratchet wheel and havin a radially extending arm, a nut carried y saidarm, alead screwv co-operating therewith, operative connectionsbetweensaid lead screw and a disk of one of said pairs, whereby theeffective enga ement of said pawl and said ratchet whee will beprogressively reduced as the diameter of the roll or web of the rewindreel increases, means whereby said pawl a supply reel for a continuousstrip or web of paper, surfaced with material having no aflinity forprinting ink and impervious to air or moisture, means whereb said supplyreel is intermittently rotate to unwind said strip or web therefrom,guides intermediate sa1d reels, a printing couple, and

means for conveying a printed sheet of patively engaging the strip orweb upon said supply ree gear whee carried by said drums respectively, agear wheel, meshing with said first named gear wheelsres ctively, aratchet wheel carried by said ast named gear wheel, a swing arm mountedconcentrically with said ratchet wheel, a pawl carried thereby andco-operating with said ratchet wheel, means intermittently actuatingsaid swing arm, whereby said supply reel will be intermittently rotatedat a constant speed, means whereby said pawl may be disen a ed from saidratchet wheel irrespective o t e relative positions thereof, guidesintermediate said reels, a printing couple, and means for conveyin aprinte sheet of pa er from adjacent t e printing couple and elivering itto said web or strip adjacent said rewin reel.

16. A delivery mechanism for printing machines embodying therein arewind reel, a pair of friction disks upon each side of the machineadjacent said rewind reel, cooperating friction disks carried by theopposite ends of said reel, gear wheels carried by the members of a pairof friction disks, a gear wheel meshing with each of said first namedgears,a ratchet wheel carried by said last named gear, a swing armmounted to move about an axis concentric with said ratchet wheel, anactuating pawl carried by said swing arm adapted to normally engage saidratchet wheel, an arcuate shield rotatably mounted upon an axisconcentric with said ratchet .wheel and having a radially extending arm,a nut carried by said arm, a lead screw co-operating therewith,operative connections between said lead screw and a disk of one of saidpairs, whereby the effective engagement of said pawl and said ratchetwheel will be progressively reduced as the ,diameter of the roll or webof the rewind reel increases, a supply reel for a continuous strip orweb of paper, surfaced with material having no aflinity for printing inkand impervious to air or moisture, two friction drums operatively thenection between said crank wheel and said last named swing arm, wherebysaid supply reel will be intermittently rotated at a constant speed andsaid rewind reel will be actuated simultaneously therewith, meanswhereby said pawls' may be disengaged from said ratchet wheelsirrespective of the relative positions thereof, guides intermediate saidreels, a printing'couple, and means for conveying a, printed sheet ofpaper from adjacent the printing couple and delivering it to said web orstrip ad acent said rewind reel.

17. A delivery mechanism for printing \machines embodying therein arewind reel,

a pair of friction disks upon each side of the machine adjacent saidrewind reel, cooperating friction disks carried by the opposite ends ofsaid reel, gear wheels carried by the members of a pair of frictiondisks, a gear wheel meshing with each of said first named gears, aratchet wheel carried by said last named gear, a swing arm mounted tomove about an ,axis concentric with said ratchet wheel, an actuatingpawl carried by said swing arm ada ted to normally engage said ratchetwhee an arcuate shield rotatably mounted u on an axis concentric withsaid ratchet wlieel and having a radially extending arm, a nut carriedby said arm, a lead screw co-operating therewith, operative connectionsbetween said lead screw and a disk of one of said pairs, whereby theeffective en agement of said pawl and said ratchet w eel will beprogressively reduced as the diameter of the roll or web of the rewindreel increases, a supply reel for a continuous strip or web of paper,surfaced with material having no afiinity for printing ink andimpervious 'to air or moisture, two friction drums operatively engagingthe strip or web upon said supply reel, gear whee s carried by saiddrums respectively, a gear wheel meshing with said first named gearwheels res ectively, a ratchet wheel carried by said ast named gearwheel, a swing arm mounted concentrically with said ratchet wheel, a

pawl carried thereby and co-operating with &

said ratchet wheel, a link connecting said swing arms respectively, acrank wheel, a pitman connection between said crank wheel and said lastnamed swing arm, whereby said supply reel will be intermittently rotatedat a constant speed and said rewind reel will be actuated simultaneouslytherewith, guides intermediate said reels, a print ing couple, a gearwheel carried by one of the members of said printing couple, actuatingmeans for said crank wheel comprising a gear wheel entrained with saidlast named gear wheel, and a chain and sprocket connection between sameand said crank wheel, and means for conveyin a printed sheet of paperfrom adjacent t e printing couple and delivering it to said web or stripadjacent said rewind reel.

18. A delivery mechanism for printing machines embodying therein arewind reel, a pair of friction disks upon each side of the machineadjacent said rewind reel, co-opcrating friction disks carried by theopposite ends of said reel, ear wheels carried by the members of a pairof friction disks, a gear wheel meshing with each of said first namedgears, a ratchet wheel carried by said last named gear, a swing armmounted to move about an axis concentric with said ratchet wheel, anactuating pawl carried by said swing arm adapted to normally engage saidratchet wheel, an arcuate shield rotatably mounted upon an axisconcentric with .said ratchet wheel and havin a radially extending arm,a nut carried y said arm, a lead screw co-o crating therewith, operativeconnections etween said lead screw and a disk of one of said airs,whereby the effective enga ment 0 said pawl and said ratchet whee willbe progressively reduced as the diameter of the roll or web of therewind reel increases, a supply reel for a continuous strip or web ofaper, surfaced with material having no a ity for printing ink andimpervious to air or moisture, two friction drums operatively engagingthe strip or web upon said supply reel, ear wheels carried b said drumsres ective y, a gear wheel mes g with said st named gear wheelsrespectively, a ratchet wheel carried by said last named gear wheel, aswing arm mounted concentrically with said ratchet wheel, a pawl carriedthereby and co-operating with said ratchet wheel, a link connecting saidswing arms respectively, a crank wheel, a pitman connection between saidcrank wheel and said last named swing arm, whereby said supply reel willbe intermittently rotated at a constantspeed and said rewind reel willbe actuated simultaneously therewith, guides intermediate said reels, aprinting cou le, a gear wheel carried b one of the mem rs of saidprintin coup e, actuating means for said crank w eel comprising anoscillatory frame, two gear wheels of different diameters mountedthereon and adapted to be selectively en trained with the gear wheel ofsaid printing couple, sprocket wheels carried by said gearsrespectlvely, a sprocket wheel carried 1 by said crank shaft, and asprocket chain engaging all of said sprocket wheels.

19. A delivery mechanism for printing machines embodying therein arewind reel, means for intermittently rotating said reel, a supply reelfor a-continuous strip, or web of paper, surfaced with material havingno aflinity for printing ink and impervious to air or moisture, meanswhereby said supply reel is intermittently rotated to unwind said stripor web therefrom, guides intermediate said reels, slotted uides, atakeup roller mounted therein and resting upon the strip or webintermediate said supply reel and said rewind reel wherebyirregularities in the traverse of the strip or web will be automaticallycompensated for, a printing couple, an means for conveying a printedsheet of pa er from adjacent the printing couple and eliverin it to saidweb or strip adjacent said rewin reel.

20. A delivery mechanism for printing machines embodying therein aprinting couple including a plate cylinder, a rotary impressioncylinder, intermeshing gears carried by said cylinders respectively, aclutch mechanism whereby said impression cylinder may be operativelyconnected with or disconnected from its gear, a rewind reel, a supplyreel for a continuous strip or web of paper, surfaced with materialhaving no affinity for printing ink and impervious to air or molsture,guides intermediate said reels, means for conveying a printed sheet ofpaper from adjacent the printing couple and delivering it to said stripor web ad-- jacent said rewind reel, a ratchet wheel adjacent saidrewind reel, operative connections between said ratchet wheel and saidmeans, a swing arm mounted concentrically with said ratchet wheel, apawl carried thereby, a ratchet wheel adjacent said supply reel,operative connections between same and said supply reel, a swing armmounted concentrically with said last named wheel, a pawl carriedthereby and co-operating with said ratchet wheel, means operativelyconnected with said last named swing arm and with said form cylinder,whereby said swing arm will be intermittently and continuously actuated,a link connection between said, swing arms, an arcuate releasing leverpivoted adjacent said first named ratchet wheel and extending throughoutthe maximum range of movement of said first named pawl. a similararcuate releasing lever mounted adjacent said last named ratchet wheeland extending throughout the maximum range of movement of the pawlcarried thereby, a lift armmounted adjacent each of said levers, a linkconnection between said lift arms, and bperative connections between oneof said lift arms and said clutch mechanism, wherescribing witnesses,this 3rd day of August, by with the release of said clutch mecha- 1921.I nism said levers will both be actuated to Y move the pawls out of theoperative rela- PETER AITGHISON.

5 tion to their associated ratchet wheels. Witnesses:

In witness whereof I have hereunto afiixed A. C. CARY 3rd, my signature,in the presence of two sub- M.'WAIH.

